Utility relocation may seem like the least sexy thing in the world, but think of it this way--it's the first step in building out a downtown subway line with three seriously sexy new stations. There was a ceremony with the mayor this morning to mark the first utility relocation work on the Regional Connector, The Source reports--that's the 1.9-mile underground link between the Blue, Gold, and Expo light rail lines (preliminary work already started, but actual noisy construction began today). Crews were tearin' it up around Second and Spring--work continues until April, with First, Second, Third, Hill, Main, and Broadway most affected. When finished around 2019, the RC will allow commuters to travel without transfer from Santa Monica to East LA and from Long Beach to Azusa. Thomas Properties Group and the operator of the Westin Bonaventure hotel are suing the project because they believe the tunneling method used on Flower Street will disrupt their business; they tried to get work stopped on the RC while the lawsuits were decided, but clearly, to no avail. Underground work is scheduled to start in 2013.
· Utility Work Relocation Begins on Regional Connector [The Source]
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